Refereeing

Today it was my honor to give my time to help referee and a 'Fencers First Competition' event at https://bayareafencing.club

These little scamps are fairly new to fencing and this event was held to familiarize them with how a fencing competition works so that they have the confidence to step out into their first local and regional events. Its so important to ensure that young fencers have positive experiences in their early events.

Fencing competitions can be intimidating, large halls, multiple events for different weapons and age groups, the need to go through signin and equipment checks. Pools and then elemination rounds run by people you may not be familiar with. Not to mention when starting out you may be loosing many bouts, not get many touches, be knocked out of the eleminations in the first round, fencing people you dont know for the first time, fencing people with more expereince. I remember my first local, regional, and national events so well - and i am thankful that i had the support to compete and develop in the sport.

Introductory competitions allow fencers to understand and experience a real competition within a safe familiar environment. Its my honor to give back to the sport of fencing helping to give positive expereinces to the newest intake to the sport.